Good Neighbor Day is September 28th (but Really It's Every Day)

Good people and pleasant places to live certainly make the world a better place, don't they? If you're lucky enough to have great neighbors to share your street or zip code, with, you probably already know how wonderful such connections can be. Getting to know the people nearby benefits everyone through mutual relationships, creating safer places to live, and promoting respectful interactions in every area of our lives.

Where did National Good Neighbor Day originate from? In 1971, a woman from Lakeside, Montana, Mrs. Becky Mattson, came up with the idea of a national holiday recognizing the value of having good neighbors. Several years later, in 1978, U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced the creation of a national observance spotlighting the the importance of stronger communities and more connected neighborhoods. Since then, National Good Neighbor Day has been celebrated across the country and provides a great opportunity for all of us to get to know the people where we live, strike up a conversation or simply acknowledge a great neighbor we're happy to live next to.

What do you think defines a "good neighborhood"? I believe the answer to that question may actually have 1001 different replies, because it's not just one or two things, it's a lifestyle and culture of caring about fellow residents. Things such as greeting one another - even just a simple hello or wave to remind someone that I care about them - can potentially open the door to future connections. It's about respect - keeping one's pets and kids in your own space, and not carelessly running across or into nearby yards, and being mindful of things such as noise, parking, driving courteously and sharing common areas. It's also about kindness, basic actions such as putting someone's trash can back, welcoming a newcomer or bringing over chicken soup to someone who is feeling poorly, and it's about safety too, being observant and watching over the street or community as a whole. How would you answer?

Below are images and graphics to download and share, along with useful links for ideas and ways to create local connections. Of course, you could make up your own list by asking family and friends to share their thoughts, maybe even creating a poster with kids and sharing it online in a community group or on a local bulletin board.

Here are some ideas for celebrating today's holiday, which of course, are also great reminders for any time of the year. neighborhoodday.org

"Why it’s important to know your neighbors."

"13 Etiquette Rules All Good Neighbors Need to Follow"

I think the most relatable post I saw this morning was from the Facebook page of National Good Neighbor Day, a black and white image with the words "It starts with hello". The minimalistic graphic was strikingly basic and plain, almost as if it was letting just those carefully chosen words send a message which speaks volumes - and it's 100% correct. Everything does indeed, begin with a simple greeting, and yet I think sometimes we become almost numb to the world around us; to the people we spend years or even decades, living right next to. Maybe flipping our thinking just a bit - adopting a mindset focused on exchanging simple greetings - can pave the way for conversations and more meaningful interactions. Let's try it today, shall we? 🙂

#knowyourneighbor

community advocate • marketing consultant • voice for small business
classic car lover • salt life • believer that "together we accomplish more"